China Is the World Leader in Solar PV Installations

China is the world leader in solar power. It not only dominates the manufacturing sector of PV products from cells through to panels, but is also the leading country in terms of PV installations. In 2024, China installed 329 GW of capacity. With this addition, the country accounted for 55 percent of global installed solar capacity, according to SolarPower Europe. The United States was the second biggest installer of solar power that year, accounting for 8 percent of the world total, while India was in third position at 5 percent.

Despite China’s strong lead, most of the other top 10 markets recorded strong year-on-year growth. The U.S. added 50 GW (54 percent increase year-on-year) while India saw an increase of 30.7 GW (+145 percent). According to Carbon Brief, China installed more solar power domestically in gigawatt terms than it exported in 2024.

Global installed solar capacity reached a record high of 597 GW in 2024, after 148 GW were added from the year before. The Asia-Pacific region remained the regional leader, accounting for 70 percent of global capacity additions.